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Heavy blows for Asian giants

The FIFA World Cup™ qualifying competition in Asia seems to
be getting more and more difficult as the continent's top teams
stumbled on Wednesday's second matchday in the run-up to South
Africa 2010.

In the first game, group favorites Australia were fortunate to
salvage a point from a goalless draw with hosts China. The visitors
had Mark Schwarzer to thank as the Middlesbrough goalkeeper saved
Shao Jiayi's spot-kick with just a minute left on the clock to
deny the Chinese a famous win.

Coach Pim Verbeek's Australia side traveled to Kunming with
an under-strength side, as five of their English-based stars were
ruled out due to injury. Moreover, a seeming lack of preparation at
high altitude saw the team struggle, as they produced only one
clear chance in the first half, Mark Bresciano forcing Zong Lei
into an excellent save.

With the Australian players' looking tired after the break,
China coach Vladimir Petrovic brought on three substitutes to keep
up the pressure. The hosts' game plan looked like paying
dividends too when substitute striker Qu Bo was brought down by
Schwarzer in the area.

The Aussie keeper went from villain to hero by saving the
penalty and rescuing the point. "It is definitely a
highlight," he said. "If you look at our preparation and
the conditions in the build-up to the game, a draw is an amazing
result."

After the game Verbeek's Socceroos are still first place in
the section while Qatar, who pulled off a 2-0 at home over Iraq,
clawed themselves back into second spot ahead of China, whose two
points from the opening two games have kept their hopes alive.

Australia's stalemate with China was not the only surprising
draw either. Korea Republic came away with only a point following
their 0-0 against Korea DPR, who met in Shanghai. Having squandered
numerous chances in both halves, coach Huh Jung-Moo's team
could do no better than share the spoils with their neighbours from
the north.

After the draw, the two teams are jointly sitting at the
section's summit ahead of Jordan, who defeated hosts
Turkmenistan 2-0 in the other match.

ShockwavesWith Australia and Korea Republic stunned slightly, it was
three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia who suffered the biggest
upset of the day as they were crushed 3-0 in Tashkent at the hands
of Uzbekistan.

Having travelled back from Lebanon with a 1-0 win from their
opening match, the rampant Central Asians further raised their game
by registering their biggest victory over the Saudis. Timur Kapadze
headed the home side into the lead on the stroke of half-time
before Maksim Shatskikh doubled the advantage after the interval.
Only two minutes later, Server Djeparov scored a penalty to put the
result beyond doubt.

The resounding victory not only strengthened Uzbekistan's
place as group favourites but also saw them become the only
team with a 100 per cent record after two rounds. They are three
points clear of both the Saudis and Singapore, who defeated Lebanon
on Wednesday.

Also joining Saudi Arabia in the losers' column were giants
Japan. Asia's highest-ranked team in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World
Ranking were stunned 1-0 by hosts Bahrain. Hubail A'ala,
Bahrain's 2004 AFC Asian Cup top-scorer, netted the only goal
of the match on 77 minutes to separate the group favourites

Japan are in second place ahead of Oman on goal difference. But
Oman will be in the better frame of mind of the two second-place
sides as they overcame Thailand 1-0 to close the gap on the group
leaders. Ismail Al Ajmi scoring the quickest goal of the day when
he latched onto Imad Ali's cross after just 20 seconds.

Wednesday's action ended as it began, with two strongly
favoured sides failing to live up to expectations away from home.
The one-point ghosts haunting Asia's big boys throughout the
day also claimed Ali Daei's Iran in the last match of the day,
as they threw away a two-goal lead to draw with Kuwait.

United Arab Emirates had their blushes saved through Ismail Al
Junarbi, who cancelled Syrian Zyad Chaabo's early goal with a
54th-minute equaliser. UAE are at the top with four points, but
with the other three teams needing just a win to make up the
deficit, the competition is wide open.